Adelaide United have defeated the Central Coast Mariners in the last ten minutes, courtesy of goals from George Blackwood and the league’s now youngest ever scorer – Mohamed Toure.

Blackwood and Toure’s goals gave Adelaide their third win on the bounce and condemned Central Coast to their fifth loss in a row.

Despite a spirited Central Coast performance, Adelaide overran them late at Hindmarsh Stadium to continue their recent good form.

D’Arrigo had an opportunity early on after Kristian Opseth out-muscled Ruon Tongyik on the wing and delivered a square ball to the 18-year-old midfielder on the edge of the box – but his shot flew over the bar courtesy of a deflection.

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The Reds then had a scare after seven minutes when the ball dropped to Chris Harold and his shot skimmed off the crossbar.

There was another volley attempt shortly after from the Mariners as Jordan Murray’s effort had Paul Izzo rooted to the spot  whilst the ball flew over the bar – only for it to be called offside.

Shortly after, Adelaide had their own chance called offside after Riley McGree found Opseth on the edge of the area, who burst into the box and slightly overran the ball on his way towards goal before it was called offside by referee Adam Kersey.

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Ben Halloran almost claimed his seventh goal of the season as he picked up the ball on the edge of the box, ran towards goal and took a shot that looped just past Mark Birighitti’s top right corner with the help of a deflection.

The half finished all square as both sides had chances to take the lead, with Central Coast having the better of the opportunities, but the Reds grew into the half.

Stefan Mauk, who made his ‘right back debut’ due to Adelaide’s defensive injury crisis, was replaced at half time by Mirko Boland.

The Mariners had yet another chance early on in the second half as Murray again headed just over the crossbar from the penalty spot after Jack Clisby found him from a free-kick.

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There was yet another golden opportunity for the Mariners with 15 minutes to go as Tongyik looked to replicate his goalscoring form from last week when he popped up from a corner, but his attempt was deflected just wide.

Al Hassan Toure’s 15-year-old brother Mohamed was then introduced into the action as Adelaide looked to avoid their first draw of the season.

And they did just that through George Blackwood as he continued his goalscoring form with a thunderbolt top corner finish from the edge of the box to hand the Reds a 1-0 lead with nine minutes to go.

Just a minute later, Toure became the youngest ever A-League goal scorer after he finished McGree’s lead up work on the left with a simple tap in.

He's fifteen. Fifteen. 😳

🎥: @FOXFOOTBALL#ADLvCCM #ALeague pic.twitter.com/NAqeHJrLKi

— Hyundai A-League (@ALeague) February 14, 2020

The late two-goal deficit was too much for the Mariners to overturn as they looked shellshocked from the Reds two-minute goal blitz.

The win takes Adelaide into fourth, whilst the Mariners remain on the bottom of the A-League ladder.

Adelaide United:  2 (Blackwood 82, Toure 83’)
Central Coast Mariners: 0

Coopers Stadium
Referee: Adam Kersey
Assistant Referees: Mathew Cream & Paul Cetrangolo
Fourth Official: Daniel Cook

Adelaide United: Paul IZZO (GK), Stefan MAUK (Mirko BOLAND 46’), Michael JAKOBSON (C), Jordan ELSEY, Louis D’ARRIGO, Michaël MARIA, Nathan KONSTANDOPOULOS, Nikola MILEUSNIC (Mohamed TOURE 76’), Ben HALLORAN, George BLACKWOOD, Kristian OPSETH (Noah SMITH 85’)

Unused subs: Dakota OCHSENHAM (GK), Lachlan BROOK, Yared ABETEW

Central Coast Mariners:  Mark BIRIGHITTI (GK), Ruon TONGYIK, Kim EUN-SUN (C), Ziggy GORDON, Lewis MILLER, Jack CLISBY, Joshua NISBET, Gianni STENSNESS, Jordan MURRAY, Chris HAROLD (Jair BRITTO 56’), Michael MCGLINCHEY

Unused subs: Adam PEARCE (GK), Dylan FOX, Milan DURIC, Dylan RUIZ-DIAZ, Samuel SILVERA, Adam PEARCE, Dylan FOX

Feature image credit: Adelaide United